Revisiting the Optical Dispersion of Aluminum?Doped Zinc Oxide: New Perspectives for Plasmonics and Metamaterials

Due to the high rate of optical losses and extensive usage noble metals, alternative plasmonic materials with maximum tunability low loss are desired for future metamaterial devices applications. Herein, potential aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), one most prominent members transparent conducting family, is demonstrated, its applicability in metamaterials. Using first-principles density functional theory, combined calculations, AZO-based, split-ring resonators (SRRs) as model examples showcased. The results match experimental reports dielectric functions pure 2.08% Al-doped (ZnO), if Hubbard local approximation applied. broadband dispersion data varying dopant concentrations (0%, 2.08%, 6.25%) extracted provided. subsequent response analyses show existence pronounced plasmons inductor–capacitor modes ZnO SRRs an enhancement metallic characteristics performance AZO upon increasing Al concentration. findings predict a low-loss material promising capability enhancing optoelectronics method introduces new, versatile approach design arbitrary geometry.